Weekend
Getaways from Bihor

If God ever gives me an opportunity to settle down anywhere else away from home , this place would be it . The drive from Salzburg to Budapest was a long one , but on reaching the city , all the soreness just vanished and we were fresh as a horse . Budapest is basically bifurcated into two parts by the river Danube flowing through the middle of the city and housing the most important centres on either side . The Hilly side is called Buda and the plain, Pest . I can&apos;t exactly vouch for its authenticity as I&apos;m giving you the guide&apos;s version . Our tour bus led us through the important landmarks of the city and dropped us at the city centre . The Hungarian Forint being weaker than the Rupee , we went on a shopping spree and half of my credit card limit got exhausted there itself at the shopping avenues , but wait the highlight is yet to come . Come evening and we were taken for a river cruise on the Danube , and God it was so beautiful with the sun going down and the lights of the buildings beside the Danube ,shimmering . A trivia , I&apos;d like to mention . Many of us have watched the blockbuster movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam , and we were told that the place is Italy , wrong . The bridge over which the famous scene happens with Aishwarya Rai running to Ajay Devgan is the Széchenyi Chain Bridge . I remember every moment of that cruise where we were sitting on the open top of the cruise with a complimentary glass of wine and enjoyed the serenity and the beauty of the place .Etched in my memories forever .Read More

If God ever gives me an opportunity to settle down anywhere else away from home , this place would be it . The drive from Salzburg to Budapest was a long one , but on reaching the city , all the soreness just vanished and we were fresh as a horse . Budapest is basically bifurcated into two parts by the river Danube flowing through the middle of the city and housing the most important centres on either side . The Hilly side is called Buda and the plain, Pest . I can&apos;t exactly vouch for its authenticity as I&apos;m giving you the guide&apos;s version . Our tour bus led us through the important landmarks of the city and dropped us at the city centre . The Hungarian Forint being weaker than the Rupee , we went on a shopping spree and half of my credit card limit got exhausted there itself at the shopping avenues , but wait the highlight is yet to come . Come evening and we were taken for a river cruise on the Danube , and God it was so beautiful with the sun going down and the lights of the buildings beside the Danube ,shimmering . A trivia , I&apos;d like to mention . Many of us have watched the blockbuster movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam , and we were told that the place is Italy , wrong . The bridge over which the famous scene happens with Aishwarya Rai running to Ajay Devgan is the Széchenyi Chain Bridge . I remember every moment of that cruise where we were sitting on the open top of the cruise with a complimentary glass of wine and enjoyed the serenity and the beauty of the place .Etched in my memories forever .

Budapest is the capital of Hungary and a beautiful city that took my breath away instantly. It has bustling markets, beautiful river-front, delicious food and crazy people. I met and made friends with two really amazing girls and had fun beyond imagination. When in Budapest, watch out for these things -1. Budapest nightlife is one of the best in Europe. The clubs are open till 5am and you can dance till your last breath.

Budapest is a beautiful city and its charm has often led to it being called the 'Paris of the East'. It remains a popular destination because of its low prices, beautiful architecture, youthful spirit, vibrant nightlife, and history. It has complex past that has resulted in a beautifully diverse culture, reflected in every corner of the city. The 19th century Chain Bridge, connecting Buda and Pest, the two parts of the city divided by The Danube, is a great example of the architectural marvels that this city has. Sitting on the banks of Danube, while the sun sets and the city lights up, is one of the most peaceful and beautiful experiences in Europe.Cheapest Month To Fly: March 2018 from New DelhiMust Visit: Buda Castle, Parliament House, Jewish Quarter, Matthias Church.Must Eat: Langos, Goulash, Lecso, Tokaj Wine and Fisherman's Soup.Must Do: Take a dip at the Thermal Baths; Grab a glass of local wine at a Hungarian Ruin Bar; Walk through the Central Market Hall; Trek to Gellert Hill.Approximate Cost for a day: Attractions – Rs. 500; Food – Rs. 1000; Travel via public transport – Rs. 500; Accommodation – Average cost for one night – Rs. 2500 on double occupancy.

Day 3Budapest welcomed us with winds we'd never experienced, and took our breath away the moment we landed. We knew our Europe Escapade had started now, truly. This city was everything our sore souls needed and more. Cheap, hip-hop and air which had a lot of love in it, Budapest remained a highlight of the trip.The Chain Bridge at night, the Castle and Fisherman's Bastion in the day, are absolute spectacles to watch.A big mug of Hungarian beer and a Hungarian Goulash are not to be missed, when in Budapest.However, the high point remained the relaxing and much needed hours spent in the Thermal water springs and a Saturday night party at the Ruin Bar. You've to be there to know what I mean.

During my student exchange in France, I hung out with quite a few Hungarians and one thing was for sure – Hungarians knew how to have fun! And why wouldn’t they ? With a country that offered cheap food and drinks (I paid lesser for a fancy brunch in Budapest than in India!), had a unique nightlife and known for its spa culture, it would be really hard not to be fun-loving.And this fun and beautiful place set the tone for our 18 day Central Europe trip. Here is my 2.5 day Budapest Itinerary followed by some travel and stay tips. Happy reading ????

Day 1 : The Grand Budapest Walk-FestWe reached Budapest Airport at 1030 in the morning and took a train to our Airbnb apartment. Since we reached before check-in time, the place wasn’t ready and we couldn’t freshen up. But it was the first day of the trip and there was nothing that could stop us. We dumped our luggage at our host’s place and started off on our Budapest walk fest.Our first stop was a small roadside stall selling Hungarian sweet treats – Kürtőskalács. Yes, the suggestion to stop and eat was mine (Surprise, Surpise!) But trust me, I could smell the aroma from a few blocks away and I just had to try.

Dear Mr/Mrs Reader,It’s my honour to warmly introduce you in #multiculti blog . So, yeah, sit comfortably in your rocking chair, pour up your ginger tea with the boiling water, and immerse into the reading of this story. It’s not going to be a bestseller, it’s just a brainstorm and emotion burst of two young guys who have uncompromisingly and unconditionally felt in love with travelling some time ago. Here is the resume of the trip me and my good friend Thanh Do Long (sorry for not using the correct Vietnamese letters ????)we made for the very first time together.

Everything is better after you’re full, no? I didn’t have much to do. It gets dark quickly in the winter so I just decided to make the most of whatever little time I had and walked around the city. What can I say about Timisoara? I don’t know much about it, frankly, and I didn’t get a chance to find out either. I can tell you it’s in Western Romania and is the third most populous city in the country. I can tell you it is called ‘Little Vienna’ for some reason (but I was in a foul mood that day and I refused to agree with whoever told me that). And I can tell you that it is a pretty city. If prettiness can show itself inspite of the snow, it’s a pretty city indeed!Read More

Everything is better after you’re full, no? I didn’t have much to do. It gets dark quickly in the winter so I just decided to make the most of whatever little time I had and walked around the city. What can I say about Timisoara? I don’t know much about it, frankly, and I didn’t get a chance to find out either. I can tell you it’s in Western Romania and is the third most populous city in the country. I can tell you it is called ‘Little Vienna’ for some reason (but I was in a foul mood that day and I refused to agree with whoever told me that). And I can tell you that it is a pretty city. If prettiness can show itself inspite of the snow, it’s a pretty city indeed!

Two hours (100 kms) south of Krakow, Zakopane is a popular resort town with the Poles, both in summer and winter. Set in the foothills of the Tatra Mountains, the town is dotted with oldworld wooden chalets topped by high, sloping slate grey roofs. Wander down Krupówki Street and the Gubałówka Market to shop for local souvenirs like wooden handicrafts and high quality leather products.Taste the typical Zakopane cheese, oscypek, a salty, smoked sheep’s milk cheese often served grilled with a dab of cranberry marmalade. Take the cable car up Kasprowy Wierch for a view of the mountains that separate Poland from Slovakia. Advanced skiers can take to two skiing and snowboarding pistes here or try the horse-drawn sleigh ride in the Tatra National Park to admire the winter landscape while ensconced under warm sheepskin.The best place to sample the local highlander cuisine is the rustic restaurant Bakowo Zohylina Wyźnio which hosts lively folk music and dance performances.Read More

Two hours (100 kms) south of Krakow, Zakopane is a popular resort town with the Poles, both in summer and winter. Set in the foothills of the Tatra Mountains, the town is dotted with oldworld wooden chalets topped by high, sloping slate grey roofs. Wander down Krupówki Street and the Gubałówka Market to shop for local souvenirs like wooden handicrafts and high quality leather products.Taste the typical Zakopane cheese, oscypek, a salty, smoked sheep’s milk cheese often served grilled with a dab of cranberry marmalade. Take the cable car up Kasprowy Wierch for a view of the mountains that separate Poland from Slovakia. Advanced skiers can take to two skiing and snowboarding pistes here or try the horse-drawn sleigh ride in the Tatra National Park to admire the winter landscape while ensconced under warm sheepskin.The best place to sample the local highlander cuisine is the rustic restaurant Bakowo Zohylina Wyźnio which hosts lively folk music and dance performances.

Next, I was in Zakopane, Poland, in the Tatra Mountains, near the border with Slovakia. I loved it there, but unfortunately, it’s still raining quite a bit.
It was absolutely beautiful, and pretty cheap too. Sure it was offcseason, but even in the off season in a similar town back home (say, Breckenridge), a hotel room hasn’t been had for $13 since 1947. And then there’s the meals…amazingly delicious, and huge meals, all at TGI Friday’s prices…and good beer for cheap too!
And after a day of hiking in the cold rain, nothing beats a nice porter, with a garnish that’ll make you feel like you’re on the beach.